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Welcome to English 1A
Composition with Georgie Ziff
About you…o On a piece of paper please write the
following…name and contact phone numberother courses you’re takingwhat college English courses you’ve taken and whereCurrent employment and schedulethings - anything I should know to better help y help you during the classhow y – how you feel about your writing
Now about me…Georgie Ziff - Two boys, now teenagers! We live in Oakland.
Grew up on the East Coast and the Midwest, but came to California for a one year job and never left : )
M.A. in Composition and Creative Writing from CSUEB
B.A. from CSUEB, double major in English and Women’s Studies American Montessori Society Early Education Teaching Credential 8th year teaching college composition at California
State University East Bay; 6th year at Merritt College; 3rd year at Berkeley City College; 2nd year at Los Medanos College; 1st summer at Contra Costa College
As a teacher, I hold my students to high standards of excellence, but I will do all that I can to help them succeed (because I know they can).
About Writing… my favorite writing quote:
o “Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.”
o William Strunk Jr. Elements of Style
Required Course Materialso Reading Critically, Writing Well by
Axelrod, Cooper and Warriner – 9th edition.
o I’m a Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson ISBN 9780767903820
o Rules for Writers, by Diana Hacker – Contra Costa College 7th editiono Composition book for your writing journalo USB flash drive and/or an online free
account with Dropbox.com (suggested)o Account with Engrade.com (suggested)o Reliable computer and printero Stapler or paper clips for attaching pages
Grading in the CourseoThree out of class essays 50%oTwo in class essays 30%oHomework 5%oGroup Writing Present. 5%o Individual Presentation 5%oWriting Journal 5%
Save Your Work Online* Create a free account
at www.dropbox.com for saving your work online. You can then access it in the computer lab. This is a great tool – it not only provides you with a place to save work, it also synchronizes any changes you make online, so your Dropbox is always up to date!
* Use a flashdrive as backup, in case you cannot go online.
Essay Assignmentso You will write three out-of-class
essays:o Observation Essayo Position Research Essayo Nonfiction Bill Bryson book essayo There will be two in-class essays in
response to a writing prompt. The first will be in the third week of class as a midterm; the second will be on the final day of class
o The in class essays might be handwritten or not, depending on whether there is computer lab access that day.
Presentationso Individual Presentation: a) You will choose one story from Bill Bryson’
book, “I’m a Stranger Here Myself” and read it aloud to the class. b) You will provide a rhetorical analysis of the
story in response to a series of questions available online
o Group Presentation: In a small group of 3 or 4 classmates, you will
select and research a topic about writing and create a 20 minute presentation for the class that has three parts:
1) describe the topic 2) demonstrate the topic 3) involve the class with a learning activity
Homeworko On the Schedule online on your class page, the
homework assignments are underlined with hyperlinks. These are links to articles are writing topics.
o Your task is to read each article and provide TWO paragraphs (not just a few sentences!) a) the first paragraph is a summary of what the
article said, without opinion, paraphrasing in your own words
b) the second paragraph is your response and analysis of the topic. Specifically:
* How effective/understandable/helpful is the article? * How is this information applicable to your writing? * What strategies can you employ from this
information to improve your college writing?
Attendance Policyo Come to class prepared and on timeo Attendance is your job as a student; your life is
not my business, so as such, do not feel it is necessary to inform me about reasons for absences or tardy issues. This class meets three days per week; a student who misses two of the classes, regardless of the reason, will have their grade reduced by one full grade.
o Missing three classes will result in being dropped from the class. In addition, as participation is required, the instructor reserves the right to drop a student who fails to submit any assignments and essays in a timely manner, i.e. more than a week late
o Computer lab days are required = missing the lab or arriving unprepared will result in a 5 point deduction off the final essay grade.
Today’s Objectiveso To get oriented to
the course, the syllabus, requirements, expectations, and so forth.
o To break/melt the ice with one another
o To form and begin working in collaborative groups
Break the Ice1. Form groups of three
2. Find one item you are carrying that is significant to you and share it with your group; explain the significance
3. Find one thing that everyone in your group has in common
4. Exchange email/contact information with each other
In the Spot Light1.Each of you will
in turn introduce one person in your group and share something you learned about him/her
2.Share what everyone in your group has in common
Working as a Team1. Together come up with
3 to 4 questions you have about this course
2. Now, with the syllabus, try to find the answers to the questions you came up with
3. Let’s talk about the questions you couldn’t find answers to…
What to expect next class…o Writing/grammar
presentation sign ups o In class writing
assessment so I can learn more about you
o Discussion of writing process
o Your first reading assignment
Your Homeworko Buy Reading Critically, Writing Well – 9th
edition, Bill Bryson’s book, and a blank composition book for your writing journal
o Download the Syllabus and Schedule, noting the homework assignments
o Send me an email with your class and
name in the subject line of the email to:
o Go to the class website -www.georgiesenglishwiki.pbworks.com
o Register at Engrade.com
